Housing member for electrical connector members



y 9, 1968 J. H. GEIS, JR.. ETAL 3,39

HOUSING MEMBER FOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR MEMBERS Filed June 10, 1965 2Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVENTOR. 4mm HAMMQMD Gil, J. R s! LA-RUI \Jlumninu y 91968 'J. H. GEIS, JR.. ETAL 3,392,363

HOUSING MEMBER FOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR MEMBERS 2 Shee ts-Sheet 2 7Filed June 10, 1965 ZAP/l United States Patent 3,392,363 HOUSING MEMBERFOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR MEMBERS John Hammond Geis, Jr., and Robert LaRue Williamson, Harrisburg, Pa., assignors to AMP Incorporated,

Harrisburg, Pa.

Filed June 10, 1965, Ser. No. 462,950 4 Claims. (Cl. 339-91) ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLDSURE A housing member comprises hollow mateable parts ofinsulating material, one of the parts having a circumferential rimextending outwardly from an exterior surface, and integralstifiiy-flexible leg means extending outwardly and longitudinally froman end of the other of the parts and including groove means forengagement with the rim upon the parts being mated to latch the partstogether.

This invention relates to a housing, and more particularly to a housinghaving mateable members to house electrical connectors and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a housing having mateablemembers which completely insulate the electrical connectors therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide a housing having membersthat are readily mateable.

A further object of the invention is to provide a housing havingmateable members that are removably secured together.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a housinghaving mateable members that are readily disengageable.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a housing havingmateable members that are engageable without the use of any polarizingmeans.

Other objects and attainments of the present invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the followingdetailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings inwhich there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of theinvention; it is to be understood, however, that this embodiment is notintended to be exhaustive nor limiting of the invention but is given forpurposes of illustration in order that others skilled in the art mayfully understand the invention and the principles thereof and the mannerof applying it in practical use so that they may modify it in variousforms, each as may be best suited to the conditions of a particular use.

The foregoing objects are achieved in the present invention through theprovision of a housing having mateable members, one of the memberscompletely housing a socket member and having a circumferential rim, theother of the members completely housing a plug member and havingflexible legs provided with grooves for engaging the circumferential rimon the one member. Lugs may be provided on one of the members toremovably mount the member and housing within the aperture of a mountingmember.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the housing showing the mateablemembers thereof in a mated condition;

3,392,363 Patented July 9, 1968 FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective viewof the housing of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view of the housing ofFIGURE 1 showing the electrical connectors in mated engagement;

FIGURE 4 is a partial, cross-sectional view of the leg members of one ofthe housing members; and

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 4 showing an embodiment ofthe leg members of one of the housing members.

Turning now to the drawings, there is illustrated a housing H havingmateable members 1 and 2, which are made from a suitable plasticmaterial such as, for example, nylon, polypropylene, etc. Mateablemember 1 has a circumferential rim 3 extending outwardly from theexterior surface thereof. The leading surface of rim 3 is beveled fromthe base of the rim in a direction away from the front end of member 1,while the trailing surface of rim 3 is beveled in a direction parallelto that of the leading surface, as illustrated in FIGURE 3. The diameterof exterior surface of mateable member 1 is the same throughout itslength, except for the area in which circumferential rim 3 is located.The interior of mateable member 1 contains a first bore 4 and a secondbore 5, both bores being separated by an annular wall 6 having anaperture 7 extending therethrough allowing bores 4 and 5 to communicatewith one another.

Mateable member 2 has a first section 8 and a second section 9. Section8 includes a bore 10 which extends to annular wall 11 having an opening12 extending therethrough. Another bore 14 is located on the other sideof wall 11 and is disposed in sections 8 and 9. A further bore 15 islocated in section 9 and has a diameter slightly larger than theexternal diameter of mateable member 1 in order to accommodate same asillustrated in FIGURE 3. The diameters of bores 5 and 14 are aboutequal, as illustrated in FIGURE 3. Surface 16, which is a junctionbetween bores 14 and 15, serves as a stop means to limit the innermovement of mateable member 1 within bore 15 of section 9.

Stiffly-fiexible legs 17 extend outwardly from section 9 of mateablemember 2. As can be discerned, these legs extend in a direction parallelto the longitudinal axis of mateable member 2, and these legs have anarcuate configuration in cross-section. An arcuate groove 18 is disposedon the inner surface of each leg 17. The inner sides of grooves 18 arebeveled so as to mate with the leading surface of circumferential rim 3;the outer sides of grooves 18 are beveled in a slight manner in adirection opposite to that of the inner sides, as illustrated in theembodiment of FIGURE 4.

Thus, when grooves 18 of legs 17 are in engagement with circumferentialrim 3 with mateable members 1 and 2 in a mateable position, asillustrated in FIGURE 3, members 1 and 2 are readily disengaged, becausethe outer sides of grooves 18 cause legs 17 to be cammed out ofengagement with circumferential rim 3 upon pull-out forces being appliedto mateable members 1 and 2. A tapered surface 19 is located on theinner surface of the outer end of each leg 17 in order to facilitate theengagement of grooves 18 with circumferential rim 3, because taperedsurfaces 19 engage rim 3 upon members 1 and 2 being moved into a matingposition causing legs 17 to be moved in an outward direction untilgrooves 18 engage 3 circumferential rim 3 and then legs 17 moreinwardly.

FIGURE illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein arcuategrooves 18 are located on the inside surfaces of legs 17'. The outersides of grooves 18 are mateable with the trailing surface ofcircumferential rim 3 in order to main legs 17 in permanent engagementwith circumferential rim 3 when members 1 and 2 are in mated position.In fact, when axial forces are applied to separate the members, thiscauses the outer sides of grooves 18 and the trailing surface of rim 3to engage each other more intimately by virtue of the inclined mateablesurfaces. In order to separate members 1 and 2, legs 17' have to bemoved outwardly until grooves 18 are moved free of rim 3, then members 1and 2 can be separated from one another. Tapered surfaces 19' areprovided on the inner surfaces of the outer ends of legs 17, and thetapered surfaces facilitate the engagement of grooves 18 withcircumferential rim 3 in the same manner as tapered surfaces 19 ofFIGURE 4. While only two legs have been disclosed, one or more than twolegs may be provided.

Lugs 20 extend outwardly from the exterior surface of section 8 ofmember 2 and have long tapered surfaces 21 and short tapered surfaces22. The inner ends of short tapered surfaces 22 are slightly spaced fromjunction 23 between sections 8 and 9. A desirable number of lugs 20 canbe disposed on the exterior surface of section 8 and some of lugs 20 mayhave their short tapered surfaces 22 disposed closer to junction 23 thanthe other lugs so as to accommodate various thicknesses of mountingpanels. Thus, lugs 20 :and junction 23 define mounting means to mountmember 2 within an aperture in a mounting member, with long taperedsurfaces 21 facilitating insertion of member 2 within the aperture ofthe mounting member and the area of the mounting member surrounding theaperture being disposed between short tapered surfaces 22 and junction23 to hold member 2 in position on the mounting member. :If desired,lugs 20 can be eliminated during the formation of member 2 and a lockingnut of spring metal may be moved along section to engage one side of amounting member while the other side of the mounting member engagesjunction 23, thereby maintaining member 2 in position. This concept alsoaccommodates any thickness of a mounting member.

A socket member SM is disposed in member 1 and a plug member PM isdisposed in member 2, as illustrated in FIGURE 3. The socket member andplug member are of the type disclosed in US. patent application, Ser.No. 352,600, filed Mar. 17, 1964, now US. Patent 3,311,866 and assignedto the present assignee. Socket member SM comprises a socket portion 24having a large part thereof disposed in bore 5; the remainder isdisposed in aperture 7 and bore 4. Spring latch means 25 and projection26 on socket portion 24 engage respactive sides of wall 6 so as toremovably latch socket member SM within mateable member 1. Socket memberSM and plug member PM include ferrule members 27 that are crimped ontothe conductive portion and insulation portion of conductor members CM.Ferrule members 27 are completely disposed within bores 4 and 10,respectively.

Plug member PM includes a plug portion 28 which is mateable withinsocket portion 24 and is disposed primarily in bore 14 with a part beingdisposed in opening 12 and bore of mateable member 2. Spring latch means25 and projections 29 are located on plug portion 28 and engagerespective sides of wall 11 to removably secure plug member PM withinmateable member 2. Spring latch means 25 on the socket member and plugmember are preferably of the type disclosed in US. patent application,Ser. No. 319,020, filed Oct. 25, 1963, now US. Patent 3,292,137 andassigned to the present assignee. While the present invention has beendisclosed in conjunction with certain connector members,

it is obvious that other connector member may be used.

Thus, socket member SM is inserted in place within mateable member 1 andplug member PM is inserted in position in mateable member 2; and, uponmembers 1 and 2 being brought into mating engagement as illustrated inFIGURES 1 and 3, socket portion 24 and plug portion 23 are also broughtinto electrical :and mechanical engagement as illustdated in FIGURE 3.

An important feature of the present invention is the fact that mateablemembers 1 and 2 can be mated in any axial direction without the use ofany polarizing means to assure the proper engagement of the connectormembers therein. Another important feature of the present invention isthe fact that mateable members 1 and 2 can be disengageable or securedto one another, depending upon the configuration of grooves 18 and 18'.A further important feature of the present invention is the fact thatlugs are provided on one of the mateable members in order to mount thehousing within an aperture of a mounting panel, if desired. Anadditional feature of the present invention is the fact that theelectrical connector in each mateable member is completely insulatedthereby and no portion of the electrical connector extends outwardlyfrom the confines of its respective mateable member. Members 1 and 2 arerotatable relative to one another when in a mated condition which allowsthe conductor members freedom of movement and does not place a strainthereon. Also, each member is rotatable relative to its respectiveconnector.

As can be discerned from the foregoing, there has been disclosed aunique housing including mateable members that are mateable in an axialdirection in any angular disposition, and the electrical connectors inthe housing are completely insulated even when the mateable members arenot in their mated condition.

It will, therefore, be appreciated that the aforementioned and otherdesirable objects have been achieved; however, it should be emphasizedthat the particular embodiment of the invention, which is shown anddescribed herein, is intended as merely illustrative and not asrestrictive of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A dielectric housing for carrying mateable electrical connectorscomprising a first member and a second member, said first member havinga generally tubular configuration and completely encompassing anelectrical connector when secured therein, a circumferential rim on anexterior surface of said first member, said rim being located inwardlyfrom a front end of said first member and dividing said first memberinto a leading section and a trailing section, said second membercompletely encompassing another electrical connector when securedtherein and defining a first section and a second section, said firstsection having a generally tubular configuration so as to receive saidleading section of said first member therein so that mateable parts ofthe electrical connectors can be electrically engaged, and integralstitfly-flexible latching leg members extending outwardly from a frontend of said first section of said second member and having groove meanstherein for engagement with said circumferential rim at any angulardisposition therearound thereby latching said members together andmaintaining said mateable parts of the electrical connectors inelectrical engagement. 7

2. A dielectric housing according to claim 1 wherein saidcircumferential rim has a leading surface and a trailing surface whichare parallel with respect to one another and which are beveled in adirection away from a front end of said first member, said groove meanshaving outer and inner sides with said inner sides being mateable withsaid leading surface and said outer sides being directed in a directionopposite to that of said inner sides.

3. A dielectric housing according to claim 1 wherein saidcircumferential rim has a leading surface and a trailing surface whichare parallel with respect to one another and which are beveled in adirection away from a front end of said first member, said groove meanshaving outer and inner sides which are beveled in a direction away froma front end of said leg members and which are paral- 5 lel with respectto one another so as to be mateable with respective ones of said leadingand trailing surfaces of said circumferential rim.

4. A dielectric housing according to claim 1 wherein holding means aredisposed on said housing for holding said housing in an aperture of amounting member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,386,177 10/1945 Andersen 339-91X Francis et al 339-61 X Aquillon et al. 339-211 Swengel 339-91 Jackson339-91 Braun et al 339-221 X DeLyon.

Marasco 339-211 X Rose 339-91 FOREIGN PATENTS Italy.

MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner.

P. TEITELBAUM, Assistant Examiner.

